Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edward Ross Newton, a remarkable Utahn who served his country with distinction and honor during the Vietnam war.

Edward, known affectionately as Ed to his family and friends, was born and raised in a small, tight-knit community in Juab County, Utah. With a love of his homeland embedded deep in his heart, Ed traded the peaceful farmlands of Mona, Utah, for the treacherous battlefields of Vietnam.

It was on the fateful day of October 16, 1969, that Ed's bravery would define his legacy. While serving as a rifleman in the 82nd Airborne Division, Ed and his fellow soldiers were engaged in a search operation in the jungles of Vietnam. Suddenly, they came under direct and intense enemy fire.

In the chaos of battle, Ed witnessed his platoon leader and medic fall under the hail of bullets. Without a moment's hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Ed sprang into action.

Running toward the deadly barrage, Ed began to fire at the enemy position, enabling the medic to administer aid to the wounded.

Standing in the open, under the hail of enemy bullets, Ed suffered a grievous neck wound, but even as he was forced to his knees, he refused to retreat. His focus was solely on the lives of his comrades.

For his extraordinary valor, Ed Ross Newton was awarded the Bronze Star medal with a V for valor, and he was also honored with a Purple Heart. These decorations serve as a testament to his bravery, devotion to duty, and deep concern for his fellow soldiers.

Mr. Speaker, Ed Ross Newton's legacy is one of unparalleled courage and sacrifice. His story is a powerful reminder of the values that define our Nation, the unwavering commitment to protect and serve others, even at great cost.

May God bless Edward Ross Newton and all those who serve our great Nation.

Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for her remarkable vision and leadership.

Mr. Chair, I will speak to the ACE Act, which is a part of the End Woke Higher Education Act.

Our Nation's education system is built on the fundamental values of free speech, freedom of religion, and the guaranteed rights of hearty and healthy debates. These core principles are so inherent to America that we often take them for granted. We, over time, assume that these freedoms will always be safe, without any effort on our part to protect them. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

A glance at our university system reveals a troubling trend: Ideological conformity and intolerance when not compliant is undermining academic freedom.

There is a systemic acceptance of a new litmus test in the accreditation world. Institutions of higher learning are facing immense pressure from accreditors to conform to the anti-American Marxist doctrine of DEI and critical race theory or risk losing access to Federal funding. This is not the education our Founders envisioned in their quest for America to continue to be a more perfect Union.

My dad was a college professor for 40 years at Florida A&M. Being raised in Tallahassee, Florida, in the shadows of FAMU and Florida State, I remember distinctly the era when our Nation's colleges and universities prided themselves on merit and competition. It was in that era within the classrooms that value of free speech, free exchange of ideas, and high standards were proudly taught.

Fast-forward to 2024, and throughout our Nation, religious institutions and conservative colleges that seek to teach their own values, the same values that students are signing up for and paying for, risk losing Federal funding by doing this process, by teaching this process.

The ACE Act brings this attack on the foundation of our American culture to an end. It allows every educational institution in our country to return to its original mission, which is to educate students in the American tradition of free and open debate, to allow for the training of critical thinking skills, and to prepare them to enter and succeed in America's innovative and diverse workforce.

The ACE Act reinforces the autonomy of every school to develop their own curriculums and policies without undue pressure to conform to the Marxist agenda pushed by politicized accrediting bodies. Most importantly, this upholds our constitutional right of free speech, which is fundamental to preserving the legacy of freedom for all future generations.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in defending the basic American rights afforded to us by the Constitution and support the ACE Act, H.R. 3724.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, as the father of 5 daughters and the grandfather of 12 girls, with a simple truth: Women's sports are for women; girls' sports are for girls; female bathrooms and locker rooms are for females.

When Title IX became law in 1972, it was a watershed moment for the hopes and dreams of every female in America. It was a game changer for women and girls in sports to showcase their talents without discrimination or prejudice.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration wants biological men to compete with women so badly that they are willing to erase decades of progress, placing women and girls in vulnerable, unfair, and dangerous situations, undermining the very protections Title IX was designed to uphold.

President Biden and the Democrats think they can redefine women's sports by redefining fairness. They believe that by replacing the word ``equality'' with ``equity,'' Americans will come to embrace their Marxist view. They believe that we will learn to reject science, God's wisdom, and good old common sense. They are wrong because they simply do not understand the American way.

The American way does not deny biological reality, and because of its instinctive respect for womanhood, the American way would never deny women and girls the protections they deserve from men.

Our resolution under the Congressional Review Act isn't just about pushing back against administration overreach. It is about standing up for fairness, safety, and equal opportunity. We cannot allow ideological extremism to dictate policy, especially when it disregards scientific facts and threatens the safety of women and girls.

House Republicans are taking a stand to protect women and girls from President Biden's misguided attempts to redefine biological reality. We refuse to allow our daughters to compete in unsafe environments or compromise their dignity in locker rooms and bathrooms.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 165 to stop the Biden administration's attacks on women and girls.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Alabama for this opportunity to reflect on the last hours of courage and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation, those who served and died for the land that they loved.

Shortly before D-Day, Second Lieutenant Jack Lundberg from Val Verda, Utah, wrote a letter to his parents:

Now that I am actually here, I see that the chances of my

returning to all of you are quite slim. Therefore, I want to

write this letter now while I am still able to.

I want you to know how much I love each of you. You mean

everything to me. It is the realization of your love that

gives me the courage to continue. I have requested that this

letter be forwarded only in the event that I do not return.

You have had many times more than your share of illnesses

and deaths in the family, still you continue to exemplify

what true parents should. I am sorry to add to your grief,

but at all times, realize that my thoughts are of you

constantly.

I feel that in some small way, I am helping to bring this

wasteful war to a conclusion. We in the United States have

something to fight for. Never more fully have I realized

that.

There is no other country with comparable wealth,

advancement, or standard of living. The USA is worth the

sacrifice.

Remember always that I love each of you most perfectly, and

I am proud of you. Consider Mary, my wife, as having taken my

place in the family circle, and watch over each other. Love

to my family, Jack.

Madam Speaker, 2\1/2\ weeks after D-Day, Lundberg was the lead navigator on a B-17 flying over Abbeville, France, that was hit by German anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames, and crashed. Lundberg was killed.

Second Lieutenant Jack Lundberg represents then and now the very best of Utah and our great Nation. It is the spirit of willing sacrifice and love of family and country that will continue to guide our minds, souls, and hearts to be the light of freedom to those around the world.

I, too, was raised by a veteran of World War II. I was blessed to see those who not only ran toward fear but came back to their homeland and built the Greatest Generation, the greatest middle class, who broke the barriers that we were then fighting to break and went on to teach their generation to be patriotic and love our Nation.

We will never forget America's Greatest Generation and their extraordinary sacrifices for freedom. Thank you, and may God grant you his eternal blessings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3935, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

This legislation seeks to strengthen, protect, and modernize the American aviation industry, a sector often hindered by an agency that is stuck in the previous century.

Since 1966, the federally imposed perimeter rule has limited access and increased costs for Americans flying into Washington Reagan airport. This bill contains a simple but important fix. It adds five new routes while maintaining all existing flight routes, whether they are within or outside of the perimeter.

This legislation is designed not for one airport or one airline but for all of us. It is about giving more options, more convenience, and more opportunities to families traveling into Washington, D.C.

I thank the negotiators of this bill for working with me over the past year to ensure this type of solution could be part of the final package.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan and bicameral agreement and to help DCA fly into the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, after the October 7 terrorist attack on our ally Israel, a wave of hate has washed across our Nation. Our Nation's college campuses have been the focal point of a wave of anti-Semitism that I never thought I would see in America.

I have heard directly from Jewish students at our elite universities who have seen anti-Semitic mobs up close, donned in their terrorist scarves while shouting in support of the terrorist group Hamas.

These scenes are straight out of the Jim Crow 1960s South during the days of segregation and the KKK. The difference is the KKK bigots of my era hid their faces under white hoods. The pro-Hamas bigots today hide their cowardly faces behind face masks.

It was my sincere hope that we had left this hate in the past, but the slow march of Marxism has spread like a virus. It has even affected our K-12 system, where our children as young as the second grade are spewing anti-Semitic chants of kill the Jews.

Students, activist teachers, and administrators up until now have had

zero accountability. Well, accountability is finally here.

The people's House has the moral clarity to call out anti-Semitic hate and bigotry. As a House Republican majority, with committee oversight and the power of the purse, we are going to do the people's will and put an end to this Marxist-indoctrinated bigotry. We are putting all options on the table as we demand our educational institutions step up, do the right thing, and protect our Jewish students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today with a heavy heart as I mourn the loss of a true American hero, Sergeant Bill Hooser.

In the line of duty, Sergeant Hooser demonstrated unparalleled courage and commitment to serving our community. His dedication to protecting and serving the people of Santaquin, Utah, was unwavering. Yet, his life was cut short in a senseless act of violence, a tragedy that took him from us far too soon.

Sergeant Hooser's sacrifice serves as a stark reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face each and every day. They put their lives on the line to keep us safe, to uphold justice, and to maintain law and order. Sergeant Hooser exemplified the very best of that high and noble calling.

Let's remember his bravery, integrity, and selflessness. We owe it to Sergeant Hooser, his family, and all those who wear the uniform to ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten. We must stand together as Utahns and as Americans in support of our law enforcement officers.

May God bless Sergeant Hooser. May He comfort his family in their time of grief, and may He watch over all those who continue to serve on the front lines of law enforcement.

I ask that the House observe a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the A Stronger Workforce for America Act.

The original Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, WIOA, was created to enhance our country's workforce development by streamlining a complex Federal program.

Unfortunately, it has not proved efficient. We all know that the economy is presently in bad shape. Employers continue to struggle to fill open positions. America needs an upskilled and reskilled workforce to compete in a constantly changing world.

WIOA was supposed to tackle this issue. To do so requires reform. A Stronger Workforce for America Act does just that. It works to upskill our workforce and puts employers in the driver's seat. It also gives State and local workforce boards a real opportunity to innovate within their systems, to include my One Door to Work Act.

This legislation, which duplicates the successful Utah model, encourages integration of workforce and safety net programs to create one door that will lift workers out of poverty into careers.

Though innovation is a word included in the name WIOA, in practice, it is lacking. The One Door to Work Act language allows innovation to be part of the WIOA. It empowers State and local leaders to innovate in pursuit of better outcomes. Innovation leads our Nation forward. We need to embrace that in WIOA and pass A Stronger Workforce for America Act.

Mr. Chair, I am speaking today in support of H.R. 7023. This bill includes language from my legislation, the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act.

As a Member of Congress, I value input from my constituents. The EPA, however, sees input from stakeholders differently, at least with regard to water quality criteria for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.

EPA claims that these criteria are just guidance, not a final agency action that should require a proper regulatory review process. States can technically adopt different criteria, but the EPA makes this process so burdensome that most States are forced to adopt the

EPA guidances. In other words, guidances become regulations, and that is the goal and endgame of the EPA.

The EPA then voluntarily takes comments and feedback on these criteria. They have a body that reviews the criteria, an internal science board comprised of bureaucrats. An internal review from its own board is not a real robust review.

The language from my bill, the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act, ensures the development of these criteria would be treated with the same respect as any other regulations--that is, listening to stakeholder feedback. The stakeholders are constantly dealing with the new burdens from the EPA. As the true experts, they deserve consideration by the EPA.

Additionally, in the most limited way possible, the EPA needs to be held accountable through the judicial system. Activists have abused the judicial system for decades. Our stakeholders should have an opportunity to keep the EPA accountable. Personally, I would prefer no new onerous criteria, but career bureaucrats being solely in charge of this criteria should frighten everyone.

Feedback from stakeholders ensures that the criteria remain relevant, and the EPA must consider the opinions of industry pros and stakeholders in making these criteria relevant. All new criteria and new regulations should incorporate their input and expertise.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act, and H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Production Act.

Just a few years ago, American energy was booming. We were energy independent, creating more than we used for the first time since the 1940s. We moved the government out of the way for hardworking Americans and watched as domestic production, net exports, and energy innovation exploded.

In Utah, the impact was incredible. The price to go on a road trip, to heat a family's home, to run an A/C in the summer were all at record lows.

On Biden's first day in office, he teamed up with the most radical wing of his party and waged a war on American energy. Day one, he killed the Keystone XL pipeline. Already under construction with over 1,500 workers, it was projected by 2021 to provide approximately 11,000 jobs. This was thousands of real middle-class union jobs, approximately $800 million in wages.

President Biden wasn't finished. He then paused all liquefied natural gas exports and spent so much on the Democrats' Green New Deal pipe dream that inflation has for years ravaged every sector of our economy.

Again, Utahns felt the impact. Today, we are spending 33 percent more to heat our homes and 40 percent more to fill up our tanks as we did in 2021.

The American people are tired of paying for the President's war on American energy. One year ago, the people's House passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Cost Act, to begin reversing President Biden's misguided energy agenda. This week, we will continue to fight by passing legislation to boost American energy production, cut green project slush funds, and lower the costs for families. We know how to make this work because we have done it before.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the American people, the President, and my colleagues across the aisle to join us in delivering affordable, clean, and reliable energy for every American.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to recognize the extraordinary achievements of the Salt Lake Community College Cross Country program, a testament to the dedication, hard work, and indomitable spirit of Utah's student-athletes. In just 18 short months since its inception, Salt Lake Community College's Cross Country program has soared to remarkable heights. The women's Cross- Country team achieved an outstanding 3rd place at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Cross Country National Championship, securing victory at the 2023 Scenic West Championship.

Equally impressive, the men's team claimed the 8th spot nationally and conquered the 2023 Scenic West Championship. Unsurprisingly, 77 percent of the women athletes and 65 percent of the men's team hail from the great state of Utah, showcasing the program's commitment to nurturing local talent. On November 11, 2023, the men's team displayed their prowess as Runner-Ups at the NJCAA National Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, with JQ Harris, an SLCC runner, clinching the men's Individual Championship.

The women's Cross-Country team went even further, securing not one but two national championships. On November 11, 2023, they triumphed at the NJCAA National Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, and two days later, they emerged victorious at the Half Marathon National Championship. These victories marked a historic moment for SLCC, claiming their first national championships in women's sports. The college now boasts an impressive tally of five national championships across women's and men's sports.

Behind this success are the dedicated coaches and leaders I would like to recognize: Head Coach Isaac Wood, named the NJCAA National Coach of the Year for Cross-Country; Assistant Coaches Kelsey Gilbert, Aiden Carlson, Tom Gruenewald; and Athletic Director Kevin Dustin.

As a former athlete and Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, I am proud of the Salt Lake Community College Cross Country program's remarkable achievements, embodying the true spirit of sportsmanship, resilience, and dedication. I thank them for their example as their continued success inspires aspiring athletes across Utah and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to recognize the extraordinary achievements of

the Herriman High School Varsity Boys Cross Country Team, who recently made history as the first Utah team ever to win the first-place title at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon.

These talented young men were among 22 seven-person clubs in addition to 50 male and female individuals who competed for the coveted Winged Goddess of Victory championship trophy. Going into Nationals, the Herriman High Varsity Boys Cross Country Team was ranked 4th among the teams competing. Overcoming adversity and from behind, the team is now bringing the championship home.

Their victory marks a historic moment for the Jordan School District and the entire State of Utah. I would also like to recognize the dedicated coaches and leaders who believe in and support this remarkable team: Coach Doug Soles, Athletic Directors Brad Tingey and Laurel Bigler, Principal Todd Quarnberg, and Superintendent Anthony Godfrey.

As a former athlete and Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee. I am immensely proud of the Herriman High School Varsity Boys Cross Country Team, their coaches, parents, and supporters. I wish them continued success in both athletics and academics and look forward to seeing more championships brought back home to Utah.

Mr. Speaker, I recently joined Speaker Johnson and more than 60 colleagues to visit the southern border at Eagle Pass, Texas, one of the busiest Border Patrol entry points. What I witnessed was nothing short of an invasion, an invasion facilitated by the purposeful policies of the Biden administration.

It was my second trip to the border since the spring of 2021, and regrettably, the situation has only gotten worse.

Two years ago, I encountered a heart-wrenching tragedy of an unaccompanied autistic 7-year-old child, a little girl who was trafficked by the Mexican cartel. My guess is the Biden administration is clueless as to the status of this vulnerable young lady. My guess also is that she is now 1 of the over 100,000 unaccompanied children who have been trafficked through the Biden administration's open border and now lost. The 100,000 innocent children lost to our system highlight the heartless administration that does not care about the innocents.

The crisis doesn't end here. Over 100,000 Americans, primarily aged between 19 and 48, have fallen victim to fentanyl, a deadly weapon shipped from China to Mexico, processed, and then smuggled across our borders. More Americans have lost their lives in a single year than the two 20-year wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan combined.

As these Americans are being poisoned across our country--by the way, this is across party lines. It doesn't matter what our race, creed, or color might be. Take one, and we have lost another child.

As we are losing Americans, over 100,000, at this one port of entry, Eagle Pass, they are making over $34 million per week through this trafficking of fentanyl.

President Biden did not inherit this crisis at our southern border. He purposely created it by rolling back the successful Trump policies and then refusing to enforce U.S. immigration laws. In his first 100 days, he took 94 executive actions on immigration, resulting in 1.8 million illegal crossings since January 2021.

That is why I joined my House Republican colleagues to pass the Secure the Border Act of 2023 7 months ago, which offers commonsense solutions to the Biden border crisis. This legislation demands the completion of the border wall, an end to catch and release, an increase in Border Patrol agents, a halt to the flow of deadly fentanyl, and protection of our innocent children from human traffickers. It places the safety of the American people first, a sentiment shared by citizens throughout our country who are tired of Washington's inaction. However, the Senate Democrats refuse to bring it to the floor for a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate to immediately pass H.R. 2, send it to the President's desk, and stand up for the safety, security, and sacred laws of our great Nation.

Mr. Chair, I proudly rise today in support of Congresswoman Steel's DETERRENT Act.

The world is on fire, and evil is spreading globally. We cannot permit American colleges and universities to be compromised. Our adversaries are determined to subvert our national interests, and today's modern battleground now includes American college campuses.

When American higher ed administrators accept financial incentives and gifts from adversarial regimes, it sends a clear message that influence on campus is for sale and that American universities are open for business.

Simply put, this is profit over patriotism. I will go a step further and call it anti-American.

It is important to understand that when our universities receive millions from countries that are antithetical to American values, there are strings attached.

Under section 117 of the Higher Education Act, colleges and universities must disclose any foreign funding to an institution exceeding $250,000. Yet, in 2019, a Senate report found that 70 percent of colleges chose to evade, hide, and cheat to avoid compliance with this law. Only 30 percent of administrators overseeing our educational institutions deemed it important to follow the law put in place by Congress with oversight authority.

This is incredibly concerning, and it must come to an end.

I am proud that my bill, the Reporting on Investments in Foreign Adversaries Act, the RIFA Act, was included in Congresswoman Steel's landmark legislation. This is the latest step to hold private industry accountable for their financial partnerships with foreign countries and entities hostile to the United States.

There is a disturbing lack of accountability for private institutions with endowments funded by foreign countries. Many of these countries seek nefarious influence within American universities, which undermines our national security.

By bribing American academic institutions with billions of dollars, our adversaries corrode the minds of American students with anti- American and pro-Marxist propaganda. This poses a threat to our national security, research and development efforts, intellectual property, and academic freedom as a whole.

Mr. Chair, the manipulation of our children on American soil paid for by the American taxpayer is unacceptable.

For the sake of our Republic and the millions of taxpaying Americans, we demand a higher standard, full transparency, and more accountability for college administrators who are complicit. We cannot be satisfied with anything less.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the DETERRENT Act.

First of all, congratulations to the vice chair.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Protecting Our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act.

Biden's open border policies have led to a historic surge in illegal border crossings, affecting not only traditional border communities but every community across the country.

Last year alone, the Customs and Border Patrol reported a record- shattering 2.4 million illegal crossings at our southern border. This year, a shocking 21,000 pounds of fentanyl were smuggled into our communities, with a staggering 90 percent seized at U.S. ports of entry.

These alarming statistics paint a vivid picture. The White House has failed to enforce our immigration laws, securing the border, and safeguarding families in Utah and across the Nation from the deadly influx of fentanyl.

Equally concerning is the President's wrongheaded policy of housing illegal immigrants in our national parks. This disastrous policy endangers the safety of local communities and strains resources meant for families to enjoy safe and wholesome activities on our Federal lands.

House Republicans are taking a stand against these reckless policies. This week we will bring to the floor H.R. 5283, the Protecting Our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act. This is crucial legislation that will prohibit Federal funding from being used to provide housing for illegal immigrants on any Federal land.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 5283 and send a clear message that we are united in our commitment to protecting our communities and securing our borders.